October Storms Brought Floods and Relief to Southwestern Colorado
In October, powerful storms swept across southwestern Colorado, damaging homes and infrastructure but also bringing much-needed drought relief to the region. The sudden deluge turned into both a disaster and a blessing for local communities.
Damage and Disruption
Vallecito and surrounding areas faced widespread flooding as tropical systems and Pacific hurricanes unleashed over 480 billion gallons of rainwater across five Colorado counties. Between October 9 and 15, the storms forced evacuations, triggered boil-water advisories, and demanded urgent road and bridge repairs.
Drought Conditions Eased
Despite the destruction, the rainfall significantly replenished reservoirs and eased severe drought conditions in parts of La Plata, Archuleta, Mineral, Hinsdale, and San Juan counties. Reservoir levels surged, with some nearly doubling in capacity.
“Some of the smaller, more local reservoirs saw significant improvement,” said Peter Goble, a climatologist with the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University. “If we look at our reservoir giants, like Powell and Mead, unfortunately at that scale this is kind of a drop in the bucket.”
Record Rainfall Totals
The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that before the storms, most of the affected region was suffering from moderate to extreme drought. Goble estimated about five inches of rain fell across the counties in mid-October, with some locations recording more than ten inches—levels not seen since the early 1900s.
Summary
The October storms brought both hardship and hope, devastating parts of southwestern Colorado while dramatically improving local water reserves and easing long-term drought conditions.
Author's summary: The October floods battered southwestern Colorado, but the heavy rainfall proved a rare gift, restoring local reservoirs and easing the region’s severe drought.